On
the homefront, Canadian JourneyWoman, Julie Cole is the proud
mama of six. In the world of business she's the successful Co-founder
of Mabel’s Labels Inc.
who blogs at www.mabelhood.com
and www.thebabymachine.com.
Julie's writing is filled with empathetic musings such as this
blog post which offers a glimpse of what it is like to care for
a travelling partner with Alzheimers disease. She writes...

Last
week I was flying to L.A. for a speaking engagement. As I boarded
the plane, I reminded myself how peaceful the flight would be.
Flying solo is like a forced holiday. Flying with my gang of six
children is a big job and one that I spend a fair amount of time
dreading. However, after the experience I had on that particular
flight, I realized that maybe travelling with my kids is not so
bad after all.

She had
big brown eyes...

Two rows
ahead of me, in the bulk head seats, was a very elderly
man who walked with a cane. He
was travelling with his wife, a striking woman with big
brown eyes and long, thick, dark hair tied neatly back.

Clearly Alzheimer’s
had taken a nasty hold of her. She was aggressive. Quite
regularly she would stand by the bulk head, face the passengers
behind her and give us dirty and accusing looks. There was
a very strange salute she would give if you happened to
make eye contact with her. At one point she was murmuring
racist remarks at the family sitting in the row between
us. It was all pretty much torturous for her husband.

He
stroked her face...

Whenever
she got agitated, her elderly husband gently stroked her
lovely face and encouraged her to sit down, which she usually
did. A few minutes would pass and she’d be back up
shooting the dirty looks and giving her strange salutes.

As I got
off the airplane, I passed by the elderly man and told him
his wife was beautiful and that he was doing a fantastic
job with her. His eyes were a little teary as he gave me
the most sincere “thank you” I’ve ever
heard in my life.

That
man is my role model...

I
imagined what life was like for him – watching his
wife slip away, apologizing and explaining her inappropriate
behaviour, having to deal with judging looks. Dealing with
all that as an 80-year-old seems like a pretty tall order.
And he did it all with grace – he always remained
kind, loving and patient.

That man
is my new role model. The next time I’m flying with
my crew and I start to lose my cool, I will remember his
tired eyes and remind myself that if an exhausted old man
can remain loving and patient, so can I.

Women's
words on love...

'Everyone
admits that love is wonderful and
necessary, yet no one can agree on what it is.'
(Diane Ackerman, 1994)

'Love is
the extremely difficult realization that
something other than oneself is real.'
(Iris Murdoch, 1959)

'Love is
a fruit in season at all times.'
(Mother Teresa, 1975)

'Love is
like a card trick. After you know how it
works, it's no fun anymore.'(Fanny
Brice, 1952)

'I love
you more than my own skin.'
(Frida Kahlo, 1935)

'It is easier
to win love than to keep it.'
(Diane de Poitiers, 1910)

'In real
love you want the other person's good.
In romantic love you want the other person.'
(Margaret Anderson, 1953)

When love
comes it comes without effort, like
perfect weather.'
(Helen Yglesias, 1976)

'Love is
like the measles. The older you get it,
the worse the attack.'
(Mary Rinehart, 1909)

'There is
nothing better for the spirit or body than
a love affair. It elevates thoughts and flattens stomachs.'
(Barbara Howar, 1973)